UPLGA Championship: Rochester repeats, edges Saint-Onge

July 17, 2013

CHAMPION - While receiving congratulatory hugs on the 15th hole at Wawonowin Country Club Tuesday for successfully defending her Upper Peninsula Ladies Golf Association title, Avery Rochester was serenaded by a chorus of "Baby Face" from members of the gallery.

You know:

"Baby face,

Article Photos

Adelle Whitefoot | Mining JournalAvery Rochester of Marquette drives from the third tee box during the UPLGA Championships, Tuesday at Wawonowin Country Club in Champion. Rochester won the hole after her opponent seceded.

Adelle Whitefoot | Marquette Mining JournalAfter taking a drop, Carley Saint-Onge hits her ball landing on the first green in three strokes during the UPLGA Championships Tuesday, at Wawonowin Country Club in Champion. Saint-Onge lost the hole to her opponent by one stroke.

You got the prettiest little baby face

There isn't another one to take your place

Baby face."

The 17-year-old Rochester just smiled sheepishly and accepted some more congratulations.

She earned it. The June Marquette Senior High School graduate methodically beat 2011 champion Carley Saint-Onge of Marquette, 5&3, by rarely getting into trouble and focusing on the task at hand.

"I'm really excited," Rochester said of her victory. "It was a fun round and definitely my best of the tournament. It seems like everything was perfect. I had only two shots that missed."

She carded "a lot of pars" and "one or two birdies" during her final round. Rochester only had a bogey or two.

"It was a great round," she said. "My tee shots were great, though I never used my driver once. I used my 5-wood.

"On the driving range before the semifinal round and during that round, I wasn't hitting my drives straight. So, I went to my 5-wood, and stayed with it."

For Saint-Onge, she fell behind early and despite a late, brief charge, never could overtake Rochester.

"It was a struggle ... and Avery was on fire with that 5-wood," she said. "I played well in the morning (semifinals) and not so well in the afternoon. I dug myself a hole the first couple of holes."

Saint-Onge said she recorded eight pars and was "5 or 6" over par in the 15 holes.

Rochester broke out of the gate by winning three of the first four holes.

"Once I was up, I got some momentum," she said.

Leading by four holes at the turn, Rochester saw Saint-Onge rally with wins on holes No. 12 and 13.

The latter hit a nice shot out of the sand on No. 12 en route to forging par, while Rochester was long on a sand wedge, sailing the ball over the green.

On No. 13, Saint-Onge buried a 25-foot birdie putt to cut Rochester's lead to 3-up with five holes to play.